The latter is the case when it comes to tight ends in fantasy football this year, for it’s easy to know who the top guy is, but maddening when trying to figure out what to do from there.

The Saints’ Jimmy Graham caught 85 passes last season for 982 yards and nine touchdowns, a level of output that fantasy owners are more than happy to get from this middling position. Getting numbers like that at a spot where other owners receive little production can make the difference in a win or two per season.

And that’s what makes the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski so great, too. He averaged five catches, 72 yards and two touchdowns per game last season. The problem is he only played in 11 games.

Another problem is that his forearm has since had more medical work than Kathy Griffin’s face. A third problem is that his back also had some work done. No. 4 is the tight-lipped nature of the New England brass that doesn’t let on when they think Gronkowski will be ready to play.

This all brings us to problem No. 5, the most important one, concerning when to draft Gronkowski. If he was healthy, one starts to think about jumping at him in the second round; if he misses only one game, the end of that round still seems reasonable; if it’s multiple games, however, could you hold out until Round 4?

Unless we get definite word on Gronkowski’s return date before drafting — something as likely as Alex Rodriguez being lauded for his honesty and sense of fair play — there will be a time in the draft when we enter a waiting game. Who will make the jump for Gronkowski? Who sees that much more risk than reward? Who will go upstairs and refill the chips, and doesn’t anyone else realize the salsa bowl is empty?

This won’t affect the drafting of only Gronkowski, however. I think this dynamic will force every owner to be thinking about tight ends, so once Gronk goes, it could trigger a run at the position. An owner would do well to remember then that those players are still tight ends, and the reason why we have to worry so much about the Pats’ injured star is because of the potential upgrade he gives over his lackluster compatriots.

The Cowboys’ Jason Witten remains a good play in points-per-reception leagues. He caught 110 passes for 1,039 yards last season, but only three of those catches went for touchdowns. The Falcons’ Tony Gonzalez gave a little bit better of an all-around performance (93 catches, 930 yards, eight touchdowns), but he’s 37 years old.

And after that small second tier…

No one really wants to go home with consolation prizes, but who couldn’t use a new set of steak knives? So try to find some solace in something middling, like the Chargers’ Antonio Gates.

Once the star of this position, Gates had only 49 catches last season, his lowest output since his rookie year of 2003. He still scored seven touchdowns, though, and training camp reports have him looking strong. His glory days may have passed, but he still should perform enough to make a satisfactory pick.

Then there’s the Vikings’ Kyle Rudolph, who matched Graham with nine touchdowns last season. Rudolph may not be the largest part of Minnesota’s game plan away from the end zone (53 total catches for 493 yards), but being looked toward when it’s time to score covers up some of that hurt.

If you have a level of self-control that allows you not to desire Gronkowski and avoid entering any tight end run, you could be well served by waiting on the position until the end of a draft. The differences between the mid- and low-end guys is so small that it may not matter when you choose a TE. For those employing this tactic, I suppose I should give you a couple of names to keep in mind.

One month ago, it may have been crazy to bring up the Ravens’ Ed Dickson as someone to target, but he has gained some sudden value. New-money quarterback Joe Flacco was already going to have to divvy up his targets in a new way with receiver Anquan Boldin leaving the champs, but then incumbent starting tight end Dennis Pitta was lost for the season with a hip injury.

Enter Dickson, who only caught 21 passes last season but averaged 10.7 yards per catch, and 10 went for first downs.

I also wouldn’t stop looking at the Colts’ Coby Fleener. He got immediate romantic attention before his rookie campaign last season as he was going to Indy with his college quarterback and top overall pick, Andrew Luck. Fleener then caught only 26 passes in 12 games, but we have yet to see the final look of the Luck-led offense.

Fleener will go largely undrafted, but one big game from him could be enough of a signpost to make him a free agent pickup.

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